Please help me with Ruby-crowned Kinglets...

I had one in the yard today that had distinct yellow edges on the primaries (ala
Pine Siskin), yellowish sides to the undertail coverts, and bright yellow edges
on the outer retrices.

Why have I never seen this before? Is that a common coloration I've just never
noticed? The field guides don't mention yellow...

(In case it is unusual, he hovered feeding on the underside of leaves, flicked
his wings all the time, had a little bitty bill, had black bars below the white
wing bars, and didn't have a break, to speak of, in the eye-ring. I did not see
a crown, which ain't unusual.)

Also, a report on my trip to the Lower Rio Grande Valley: 218 species, 89
lifers, 1,152 mosquitos. What a gold mine of beautiful, wonderful birds.
Included was the Golden-cheeked Warbler on a side trip to the hill country.
Eastern Screech Owl, Paraques, Chuck-Will's Widows, Elf Owl, at night. Also,
tens of thousands of Broad-winged Hawks in kettles streaming in off the gulf.
Mixed in the kettles were about 10% Swainson's, Sharpshinned, Coopers,
White-tailed Kites, even a few White Pelicans. Best bird: an outrageously
beautiful, crazy, hovering, displaying, hormone-enraged, truly macho, Vermilion
Flycatcher.

Thanks,

Jerry Blinn
Silverdale


E-mail from: Jerry Blinn, 04-May-1997